20 Ways To Thank Volunteers

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We volunteer because we want to make a difference. We do it because of the personal satisfaction that comes from helping others. We keep coming back because we love what we do. Yet, it’s always nice to hear that we’re appreciated.

National Volunteer Week is coming up from April 7-13 this year. What is your organization doing to show appreciation for its priceless volunteers? I would love to see your ideas in the comment section!

In the meantime, please check out these 20 suggestions for thanking volunteers during Volunteer Week and all year round:

• Invite a massage therapist to provide chair massages.

• Arrange for discounts at local businesses.

• Ask your onsite children’s center to make thank-you cards for volunteers.

• Send volunteers to seminars or provide onsite workshops.

• Host events involving food: ice cream social, picnic, breakfast, pizza party. Include their families, too.

• Offer free tickets to events: movie, concert, sporting event, museum.

• Send a card with a personalized note for their birthday or volunteer anniversary.

• Provide free meals while volunteering.

• Post a volunteer recognition board to highlight current volunteers and their contributions.

• Give volunteers free T-shirts to wear while they’re volunteering and for special events.

• Thank volunteers in the employee and family newsletters.

• Get a group of employees together to sing a thank-you song at a volunteer get-together.

• Pay for a fun adult education class of their choice such as cooking, painting, or gardening. Ask participants to share what they learned with the residents.

• Offer to write a letter of recommendation for a job application or a scholarship.

• Provide free childcare during a volunteer meeting or event.

• Print business cards for each volunteer.

• Give each volunteer an item with the company logo to promote a sense of connection to the organization.

• Take pictures of volunteers in action throughout the year, then feature them in a slideshow at an event.

• Provide opportunities for residents and their families to write notes of appreciation to volunteers.

• Help your residents create little thank-you gifts such as bookmarks, picture frames, sun catchers, or coasters.

Finally, be careful not to use a one size fits all approach when showing appreciation for volunteers. As an example, what’s meaningful and enjoyable for your teen volunteers might not be right for your older volunteers and vice versa. Ask around and find out how your volunteers want to be appreciated!